Scouting Report: Knowledge Musona - Kaizer Chiefs And Zimbabwe

Name: Knowledge Musona

Age: 20

Nationality: Zimbabwean

Club: Kaizer Chiefs

Position: Forward

Despite all the political turmoil in Zimbabwe, football continues to thrive and the South African PSL teams are looking at their neighbours for quality talent. After producing top class strikers Benjani Mwaruwari and Peter Ndlovu, both of whom went to ply their trade in England another goal poacher with great talent has been born.

From Humble beginnings

Described by his national Under-17 coach Rodwell Dhlakama as an introvert, Musona was born and bred in a small township in Norton where he went to school. He went on to study at Lord Malvern High School after being recruited by Aces.

Musona hails from a family of footballers. His younger brother Walter is also a striker is at his former team Aces and his elder brother George plays in the Zimbabwean Second Division.

Musona has been quoted as saying he didn't really want to play football because of his small stature, which made life difficult for him against heavily built players and above all he never had a pair of boots. When other kids went to play football, Musona instead played cricket and at the age of 14 his club owners bought him his first pair of boots, and that is when it all began for the now feared striker.

He went on to play for his brother's team, Haka. There he was spotted by Aces Youth Soccer Academy who snatched him and had to go to school in the morning and then play football in the afternoon. The Academy, founded by Swiss coach Marc Duvillard, has churned out a number of talented players such as Ajax Cape Town striker Khama Billiart. He was then spotted by the Kaizer Chiefs scouts who immediately brought him to Naturena in the 2009/10 season where he made an instant impression and his exploits earned him the Rookie Player of the Year Award.

Is He The New Peter Ndlovu?

Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic rates the youngster highly and once told the media that, "Knowledge's future is in Europe". Musona has been receiving rave reviews since he burst onto the South African Premiership scene and back in his home country he is already being touted as the next Peter Ndlovu.

Ndlovu is the Zimbabwean legend who went to play in England at a tender age where he featured for Coventry City and later Sheffield United. He went on to captain his country to their first ever Africa Cup of Nations in 2004 and Musona is seen as the heir to Ndlovu's legacy, who can secure the country their first World Cup qualification.

The young sensation popularly known as "The smiling Assassin" gave Brazilian captain Lucio problems during an international friendly match just before the 2010 World Cup. He has a great technique and his refined first touch on the ball often gives him an edge over defenders, while he has the added ability to drop deep in search of the ball.

What The Future Holds For The Smiling Assassin

The youngster, who makes no secret of his Christian beliefs has openly expressed his gratitude to God for the opportunity to play for the biggest team in South Africa and like all other Africans he dreams of a career in Europe one day.

Kaizer Chiefs are no doubt the best team to provide the platform for the young sensation to get to Europe, if he keeps up his high match temperament. Should the player's DVD's be sent abroad, a number of clubs could well be added to his list of admirers, as he possesses good pace and great skill which gives him the ability to turn defenders. Above all he is still young, and at 20-years-old a coach can still fine tune him to fit various club systems.

He is a great team worker, he proved this by creating chances for his team mates to score and at the same time going on to score important goals. He was already Amakhosi's trump card last season when the won the Telkom Knockout and this season he is leading their quest for the league title.